Il6 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



base of the foot. The fourth toenail had also deeply cut into the sand, at right 

 angles with the long axis of the foot, and there was in some of the marks an 

 indication of the web connecting all the toes. The scratches of the tail feathers 

 appeared in places. In rising, the birds took five hops for a distance of four 

 yards before they could clear the sand. By hops I mean that their feet were 

 placed close together, as shown by the six deep scratches of the nails. Gulls 

 and Ducks use the feet alternately, run, in other words, when they are launching 

 themselves into the air, but in the case of the Shags the footprints were side by 

 side and as close together as possible. 



On the water, Shags look very much like Loons, except for their black 

 necks and breasts. They dive with great facility, throwing themselves forward 

 with their powerful legs. They rise from the water with considerable difficulty, 

 unless a strong breeze is blowing. In flight, they are totally unlike a Loon for 

 their large rounded wings are slowly flapped like a Heron's, and at times they 

 glide on outstretched pinions. The neck is stretched out in front, generally 

 with a slight curve near the head, and the tail appears short in comparison with 

 the long neck. It is in reality quite long, and is fan-shaped when spread. The 

 short legs do not stretch out beyond the tail in flight as they do in case of the 

 Loons, but are concealed by the tail. They fly in single file, in a perfect V, or 

 in an irregular bunch. When flying from one feeding or resting ground to 

 another, they flap along close to the water, but in migrating they generally fly 

 high. A large dark bird flying heavily close to the water and alighting on a 

 spar buoy, can surely be put down as a Cormorant. I have frequently watched 

 these great birds alight on a spar buoy or spindle. They first swing around to 

 leeward of it, then flap and sail towards their goal with neck stretched out to its 

 fullest capacity and pointing nearly straight up at the last, when the feet are 

 dropped ready to grasp the perch. Sometimes they fail to make it the first 

 time, and are obliged to swing around to leeward and try again. The only 

 sound I have heard these birds utter is a hoarse croak. 



The marks for the recognition of this bird in the field are given in detail 

 above, but are in brief as follows : on the water it looks like a Loon but has a 

 dark breast and neck as well as back. In flight, its broad wings are flapped and 

 set like a Heron's, but its neck and long tail are distinctive. Perched on rocks 

 or buoys, its upright figure, long, slightly curved neck, and tail used as a prop 

 make it unmistakable. The distinctive points between the Double-crested and 

 the Common Cormorant are detailed under the latter bird. 



